The Golden State Warriors dropped their second straight game to the Houston Rockets. Steve Kerr’s team will now face the daunting task of a win-or-go-home scenario for game seven of the opening playoff round on Sunday, May 4. The Warriors have been here before. They defeated the Sacramento Kings in a game seven in 2023, advancing to the second round.
When speaking to the media on Friday, May 2, Stephen Curry detailed the excitement and pressure that comes with playing in a do-or-die scenario. The veteran superstar has played in his fair share of elimination games, and he knows what it takes to be successful in those situations.
“It’s just the nerves and the adrenaline, and you understand the stakes,” Curry said. “If you don’t play your best game, you don’t figure out a way to win, you’re going home. But it’s also exhilarating because when you do, it brings the best out of you. There’s no better feeling of closing out a series with just the whole Game 7 vibe…It’s what this league is about. It’s a great opportunity to show up when it matters most. And have an opportunity to move on. You don’t really do anything different. But you have to embrace the nerves and the adrenaline of it.”
Curry will need to be at his best if the Warriors are to stand a chance of overcoming the Rockets. Ime Udoka has turned Houston into a stern defensive unit, both willing and capable of inserting their physicality onto games in a bid to take control of the tempo.
The Warriors are the more experienced team. They know what it takes to win at this level and have the star names and championship banners to do so. As such, they will likely come into Sunday’s game with cautious optimism. Nevertheless, Curry will know he holds the keys to victory and must prove he can still produce at the highest level, despite flirting with the back end of his 30s.
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